As I recall, the early days with Lamictal were actually quite activating for me, and I tended to ramp up with each titration till I got to about 200 mg, then it leveled off.

Like another member said, Lamictal really does little to nothing for mania, at least not if you have the full-blown episodes like I and so many others here do. Personally, it's kept me out of depression for 1 1/2 years except for a low period that lasted through all of December and a mixed episode in May. YMMV, but it's a good drug that helps pull all the other elements of bipolar treatment together for people like me who take multiple meds.